I     UNIVE 


Climate 

of 
Bri3ona 


Read   before  the   American  Climatologic 
Society  at  Lakewood,  N.  J., 
May  13th,  1896. 


MM 


MARK  A.  £0DGERS,  MD. 

TUCSON,  ARIZONA 

Member  American  Climatology 


Ke]ninted  from 

"The  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter" 

of  May    1(J,  189R 


The  culs  used  in  this  article  were  ofc 
courtesy  of  the  Southern  Pacifi 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

Microsoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/climateofarizonaOOrodgrich 


THE 


^limate  of  -Arizona 


MARK  A.  RODGERS,  M.D. 

TUCSON,  ARIZONA 


THE  CLIMATE  OF  ARIZONA 


MARK  A.  RODGERS,  MJD. 

TUCSON,  ARIZONA 


THEKE  is  probably  no  country 
on  the  globe,  that  shows  so 
many  striking  and  picturesque 
topographical  contrasts  as 
does  Arizona.  Frightful  chasms, dark  and 
gloomy  canons,  massive  mountains,  roll- 
ing plains,  rich  and  fertile  valleys,  arid 
wastes  and  beautiful  mountain  vales 
form  a  panorama  of  nature  at  once  in 
her  wildest  and  most  gentle  mood. 
Here  time  has  wrought  mighty  changes, 
and  the  face  of  the  land  yet  bears  the 
traces  of  the  fearful  convulsions  which 
rent  it  from  end  to  end.  From  Utah  to 
Sonora,  and  from  the  great  Colorado  to 
New  Mexico,  the  same  physical  features 
are  met  with.  Mountain  and  valley, 
table-land  and  plain,  barren  peak  and 
rocky  gorge,  and  above  all  a  sky  without 
a  cloud  and  a  sun  unequaled  for  bril- 
liancy. Such  a  land  is  Arizona ;  a  land 
blessed  with  many  a  gift,  and  showing  a 
wild  and  attractive  beauty  that  well 
becomes  a  clime  that  has  given  birth  to 
a  race  wilder  than  its  canons  and  moun- 
tains, and  with  natures  as  fiery  as  its 
summer  suns."* 

In  order  to  understand  the  nature  of 
the  climatic  conditions  found  in  Arizona, 
and  to  study  the  climate  intelligently,  it 
will  be  necessary  to  first  glance  at  the 
geographical  location,  its  area  and  to- 
pography. 

Arizona  is  situated  between  31°  and 
37°  North  Latitude  and  between  109° 
and  114°. 40'  Wets  Longitude.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Utah  and 
Nevada,  on  the  east  by  New  Mexico,  on 
the  south  by  the  Mexican  State  of 
Sonora,  and  on  the  west  by  California 
and  Nevada.     Its  area,  according  to  the 

The  Resources  of  Arizona,"  1884.    Patrick  Hamilton . 


latest  surveys,  is  113,916  square  miles. 
Its  length  from  north  to  south  is  over 
400  miles,  and  from  east  to  west  more 
than  350  miles.  It  is  larger  than  the 
combined  areas  of  New  England,  New 
York  and  New  Jersey.  Its  altitude 
varies  from  below  the  level  of  the  sea 
to  thirteen  thousand  feet  above  sea- 
level. 

The  conditions  which  confront  the 
student  when  he  begins  to  study  the 
climate  of  Arizona  are  so  unlike  those 
which  obtain  in  the  Mississippi  Valley 
and  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  that 
he  is  compelled  to  look  for  some  general 
cause  for  the  radical  difference. 

On  the  Atlantic  Coast,  from  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence  to  Alabama,  the  Appa- 
lachian mountain  system  extends,  having 
throughout  its  course  a  general  north- 
east to  southwest  trend.  Generally 
speaking,  this  range,  which  corresponds 
to  the  Cordilleran  mountain  system  of 
the  Pacific  Coast,  has  a  moderate  alti- 
tude, rarely  more  than  5,000  feet;  the 
ranges  and  spurs  all  have  a  uniform  and 
parallel  direction,  and  the  ascent  is 
gradual.  From  the  sea-coast  on  the 
east,  and  from  the  plains  on  the  west, 
there  appear,  in  the  order  named,  a 
gently  undulating  rolling  country,  then 
hills  of  moderate  altitude,  and  these 
coalescing  form,  with  a  gradual  general 
elevation  of  the  entire  mass,  the  moun- 
tains proper.  There  are  no  enormous 
canons  like  these  of  the  Colorado  and 
Columbia,  and  the  elevations  extend 
over  large  areas  of  country. 

The  Atlantic  Coast  is  influenced  by  no 
equatorial  ocean  current.  Hence  it  is 
that  New  York,  which  is  about  the  same 
latitude  as  Naples  and  Madrid,  has  a 


.£3 

So 
^3 


Is 


as  a 
C 

c  ts 

M 


the   conditions 
Here,    too,  *a 


climate  much  like  that  of  Northern 
Scotland  or  Scandinavia,  which  localities 
are  at  about  the  same  latitude  as  North- 
ern Labrador.  An  altitude  of  5,000 
feet  does  not  deplete  the  wind  currents 
of  their  moisture,  so  that  the  valleys 
which  are  located  between  the  mountain 
ranges  are  everywhere  well  watered, 
both  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  from 
the  Great  Lakes.  There  is,  therefore, 
no  region  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard  which 
is  deficient  in  moisture,  and  there  is  on 
the  contrary  a  marked  humidity.  All 
this  vast  territory,  including  not  only 
the  Atlantic  Coast,  but  also  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley  where  the  conditions  are 
virtually  the  same,  is  subject  to  great 
alterations  in  temperature.  Great  heat 
in  summer  and  excessive  cold  in  winter 
are  the  marked  characteristics,  with 
sudden  changes  in  temperature  and 
markedly  humid  atmosphere,  in  which 
the  sensible  extremes  are  felt  with  a  dis- 
comfort which  is  unknown  in  the  arid 
regions. 

On  the  Pacific  Coast 
are  entirely  different, 
gigantic  mountain  system  ranges  be- 
tween the  Mississippi  Valley  and  the 
ocean.  Like  the  corresponding  system 
on  the  Atlantic  Coast,  its  general  trend 
is  towards  a  central  axis,  the  direction, 
however,  being  from  northwest  to  south- 
east. Generally  speaking,  this  range 
has  a  high  altitude,  frequently  more 
than  5,000  feet,  and  as  high  as  15,000 
feet  in  every  State  and  Territory.  The 
ranges  and  spurs  do  not  have  a  uniform 
and  parallel  direction,  but  are  cut  up  in 
every  direction,  making  in  reality  a 
series  of  mountain  ranges  of  indepen- 
dent trend.  Finally,  the  ascent  is 
always  abrupt  and  from  the  soft  nature 
of  the  elements  composing  the  moun- 
tains, the  streams  have  cut  their  way 
far  below  the  level  of  the  surface ; 
hence  the  gigantic  canons. 

The  Japan  Ocean  Current  also  has  an 
important  influence  on  the  climatic  con- 
ditions of  the  Pacific  Coast.  This 
stream,  arising  in  the  equatorial  regions, 
lows  north  along  the  eastern  shore  of 
.sia  until  it  strikes  the  shores  of  North- 
ern Siberia  and  Alaska,  where,  after 
sing  tempered  by  the  cold  waters  from 
ie  Arctic  regions  which  come  down 
irough  Behring  Strait,  it  flows  south- 
ard along  the  western  shore  of  North 


America  as  far  as  the  equatorial  regions. 
The  stream  has  a  most  decided  effect  on 
the  temperature  of  the  entire  Pacific 
Coast,  and  also  influences  the  trade 
winds  and  the  rainfall.  The  large  body 
of  water  which  comprises  the  Japan 
Current  being  always  at  the  same  tem- 
perature, it  follows  that  the  atmosphere 
of  the  entire  coast  region  remains,  with 
little  variation,  the  same  throughout 
the  entire  year.  So  that  while  the 
people  of  the  north  and  east  are  endur- 
ing the  most  intense  cold  or  the  most 
oppressive  heat,  the  people  of  the  Pacific 
Coast  are  enjoying  a  temperature  which 
is  most  equable  and  moderate.  While 
the  effect  of  the  Japan  Current  is  felt 
over  the  entire  western  coast  of  North 
America  in  a  general  way,  principally 
from  a  moderation  and  equability  of 
temperature,  still,  from  this  peculiar 
topography  of  the  country,  the  modifi- 
cations of  temperature,  humidity  and 
rainfall  are  very  marked.  Thus,  for 
example,  Washington,  Oregon  and 
Northern  California,  west  of  the  moun- 
tains, are  excessively  humid  and  equable; 
whilst  east  of  the  mountains  the  rainfall 
and  humidity  are  deficient  and  the  tem- 
perature almost  entirely  dependent  upon 
altitude  and  latitude. 

In  addition  to  the  Japan  Current, 
another  large  stream  of  warm  water 
makes  its  influence  felt  along  the 
Pacific  Coast.  This  is  the  North  Equa- 
torial Drift  Current.  Arising  in  the 
north  equatorial  region  this  stream 
flows  westward  along  the  Tropic  of 
Cancer  until  it  strikes  the  Japan  Cur- 
rent as  it  flows  northward  along  the 
eastern  shore  of  Asia.  By  this  current 
it  is  turned  north  as  far  as  the  island  of 
Nippon,  Japan,  by  which  it  is  deflected 
east.  It  then  flows  almost  due  east, 
between  the  fortieth  and  fiftieth  par- 
allels of  latitude  to  the  western  shore  of 
North  America,  where,  meeting  the 
Japan  Current  on  its  return  from  the 
Arctic  regions  it  is  deflected  south.  It 
now  follows  the  Japan  Current  south- 
ward as  far  as  the  thirtieth  degree  of 
latitude,  when,  meeting  the  Equatorial 
Counter  Current  from  the  southwest,  it 
is  deflected  westward,  from  whence, 
flowing  over  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  it 
arrives  at  its  original  starting  point. 
The  water  of  this  stream,  after  flowing 
for    upwards    of   four    thousand   miles 


through  the  equatorial  region,  emerges 
therefrom  to  flow  through  the  temperate 
region.  From  the  length  of  time  which 
is  required  for  this  stream  to  pass 
through  the  tropics  it  is  apparent  that 


in  height.  The  territory  between  these 
stupendous  barriers  comprises  besides 
Utah,  Nevada  and  Arizona,  the  eastern 
portions  of  Washington  and  Oregon,  and 
the  western  portions  of  Idaho,  Wyoming, 


XJ^J*^^fe 


the  water  must  be  warm.  In  passing 
through  the  temperate  region  it  never 
reaches  higher  than  the  forty-fifth  de- 
gree of  latitude  and  even  then  the 
waters  and  atmosphere  surrounding  it 
are  tempered  by  the  Japan  Current.  It 
follows,  therefore,  that  this  stream  is 
always  exceedingly  warm  and  the  winds 
which'  arise  and  blow  over  it  are  al- 
ways bland.  The  effect  of  this  is  felt 
all  over  the  Pacific  Coast  and  even  be- 
yond the  Rockies  ;  where,  as  far  inland 
as  the  Dakotas,  the  fierce  blasts  of  mid- 
winter are  occasionally  replaced  by  a 
balmy  spring-like  wind — the  "Chinook" 
— which  causes  the  great  dritts  of  snow 
to  vanish  within  a  few  hours. 

At  the  southern  borders  of  British 
Columbia  and  Alberta,  the  great  Cor- 
dilleran  mountain  system  divides  into 
two  immense  chains :  the  Rocky  and 
Sierre  Nevada.  The  former  extends 
through  Montana,  Idaho,  Wyoming, 
Colorado  and  New  Mexico,  while  the 
latter  passing  near  the  coast,  traverses 
Washington,  Oregon,  and  California  and 
ends  by  forming  the  peninsula  of  Lower 
California.  These  vast  mountain  ranges 
form,  almost  without  a  break,  two  gi- 
gantic walls  five  thousand  feet  and  over 


*    ^Mu  Ajfot^^ih 


U><^ 


Colorado  and  New  Mexico.  The  entire  re- 
gion within  these  limits  is  an  arid  waste, 
except  where  the  altitude  rises  to  above 
five  thousand  feet ;  for  the  moisture- 
laden  winds  from  the  Pacific  find  the 
Sierra  Nevadas  an  insuperable  obstacle 
to  their  progress,  and  what  little  moist- 
ure reaches  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Rockies  is  entirely  condensed  before  the 
winds  can  cross  the  summits.  The 
moisture  for  this  immense  region  is 
either  derived  from  such  bodies  of  water 
as  the  Great  Salt  Lake  and  the  Gulf  of 
Lower  California,  or  gains  entrance 
through  an  occasional  mountain  pass, 
and  this  meagre  amount  of  moisture  is 
so  rare  that  it  will  only  condense  on  the 
higher  altitudes. 

Arizona  lies  at  the  southern  extremity 
of  this  great  basin.  It  is  situated  far 
inland  and  has  a  southwestern  exposure. 
In  viewing  the  topography  of  the  coun- 
try as  a  whole,  we  find  the  highest  point 
of  elevation  at  the  northeastern  portion 
of  the  territory,  in  the  San  Francisco 
Mountains,  the  highest  peak  of  which, 
Mount  Humboldt,  raises  its  snow-clad 
summit  to  a  height  of  thirteen  thousand 
feet.  From  thence,  there  is  a  general 
depression  in  a  southwesterly  direction 


I 


as  far  as  the  basin  of  the  Colorado 
desert,  which  is  below  sea-level.  Prob- 
ably no  country  in  the  world  presents 
such  great  diversity  of  altitudes  within 
such  limited  areas.  One  may  stand  on 
the  brink  of  the  Grand  Canon  of  the 
Colorado  and  within  a  few  hours  make 
a  sheer  descent  of  a  mile  and  a  half  to 
the  banks  of  the  stream. 

The  contour  of  the  country  is  peculiar. 
It  has  been  likened  to  a  wash-board. 
With  the  southeastern  extremity  so 
tilted  as  to  represent  the  highest  altitude 
of  Mount  Humboldt  and  the  southwestern 
extremity,  so  as  to  represent  the  depres- 
sion below  sea-level  in  the  Colorado  des- 
ert, the  corrugations  running  from  north- 
west to  southeast,  but  with  many  breaks 
in  the  continuity  of  the  ranges,  one  ob- 
tains a  rough  conception  of  the  topog- 
raphy. Although  the  ranges  have  a 
general  trend  from  northwest  to  south- 
east, the  drainage,  owing  to  the  confused 
and  broken  contour,  is  entirely  to  the 
southwest ;  and  the  rivers  which  drain 
this  vast  area,  in 
order  to  gain  ac- 
cess to  the  sea, 
have  cut  great 
canons  and  gorges 
through  the  soft 
elements  which 
comp  o  se  the 
mountains. 

Everywhere 
throughout  the 
territory,  plains 
and  mountains 
alternate ;  the  lat- 
ter rising  abrupt- 
ly from  at  or  near 
sea-level,  to  a 
height  of  several 
thousand  feet. 
One  may  stand 
on  the  mesa  at 
Tucson,  at  an  ele- 
vation of  twenty- 
four  hundred  feet 
and  see  a  distance 
of  one  hundred 
miles.  Within 
that  vast  scope  no 
less  than  six  sepa- 
rate mountain 
chains  are  in  plain 
view,  seemingly 
but  [a  few  leagues 


distant,  which  range  in  altitude  from 
four  thousand  to  eleven  thousand  feet. 
These  mountains,  above  an  altitude  of 
four  thousand  feet  are  covered  with  great 
forests  of  pine  and  fir  ;  while  the  inter- 
vening mesas  are  nothing  but  arid 
wastes. 

This  peculiar  topography  has  a  de- 
cided bearing  on  the  climate  of  Arizona. 
So  frequent  are  the  mountain  ranges 
that  their  summits  represent,  so  far  as 
the  wind  currents  are  concerned,  the 
general  level  of  the  country.       Hence  it 

TABLE  I. 

SHOWING  THE  RELATION  BETWEEN  RAINFALL 

AND  ALTITUDE. 


Stations. 

Altitude. 

Rainfall. 

Ofeet 

141    " 

735    " 

1068    " 

2400    " 

4785    " 

7400    " 

2.05  inches 

3.05      " 

Gila  Bend 

6.15      " 

Phcenix 

7.08      " 

Tucson 

11.00      " 

Fort  Huachuca 

15.33      " 

U.  S.  Station,  Chiricahua 

22.33      " 

A   SAHUABA  OR   GIANT  CACTUS 


is  that  the  moisture-laden  winds  pass  over 
the  intervening  valleys  and  condense  on 
the  tops  and  sides 
of  the  mountains; 
the  rainfall  being 
directly  propor- 
tionate to  the  alti- 
tude. 

A  study  of  the 
temperature  rec- 
ords for  Arizona 
show  that  the  en- 
tire territory  is 
influenced  by  the 
conditions  which 
effect  the  other 
portions  of  the 
Pacific  Coast,  al- 
though only  to  a 
slight  degree. 
Thus,  the  temper- 
ature of  Tucson 
is  milder  than  the 
temperature  of 
Atlanta,  although 
the  latter  city  is 
more  than  1,000 
feet  lower  than 
the  former ;  and 
the  temperature 
of  Yuma  is  milder 
than  that  of  New 
Orleans,  notwith- 
standing the  fact 
that  the  latter  is 


more  than  200  miles  nearer  the  equator 
than  the  former.*  Aside  from  these  gen- 
eral conditions,  which  make  all  regions 
of  the  Pacific  Coast  warmer  than  corre- 
sponding latitudes  on  the  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  Coasts,  the  temperature  of  Arizona 
is  largely  dependent  on  altitude. 

I  repeat,  the  temperature  of  Arizona 
is  slightly  warmer  than  corresponding 
altitudes  and  latitudes  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  or  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
Further  than  this,  the  temperature 
seems  only  to  be  modified  by  altitude 
and  humidity.  We  have  no  records  of 
temperature  at  a  higher  point  than  Pres- 
cott ;  but  we  know  that  the  temperature 
is  lower  as  we  ascend.  At  Flagstaff,  we 
encounter  several  feet  of  snow  with  zero 
weather,    and    the    summit    of   Mount 


climate,  which  they  cannot  find  in  the 
United  States,  at  a  high  altitude. 

It  will  be  noticed  by  Table  III  that  of 
all  the  stations  in  southern  Arizona, 
Phoenix  shows  the  greatest  variation  of 
temperature,  being  the  hottest  in  sum- 
mer and  the  coldest  in  winter.  Phoenix 
is  at  an  altitude  of  1068  feet,  just  mid- 
way between  Yuma  and  Tucson.  Under 
ordinary  conditions  we  would  expect  to 
see  the  temperature  there  also  midway 
in  extremes  between  these  two  points. 
Although  we  have  not  at  our  command 
records  of  the  relative  humidity  in  the 
Salt  River  Valley  for  more  than  a  period 
of  six  months,  we  feel  quite  safe  in  as- 
suming that  the  difference  is  due  to  this 
cause.  Phoenix  is  situated  low  down  in 
the  valley  near  the  Salt  River,  and  ac- 


TABLE  II. 

SHOWING  THE  DIFFERENCE  BETWEEN  THE  TEMPERATURE  OF  TUCSON  AND  VARIOUS  POINTS 

ON  THE  ATLANTIC  COAST,  MISSISSIPPI  VALLEY,  GREAT  LAKES  AND  GULF  OF  MEXICO. 

Table  for  nine  months,  October  to  June  inclusive,  1891-2. 


Stations. 


Philadelphia 
New  York  .... 

Boston  

Richmond .... 

Asheville 

Aiken,  S.C.... 

Atlanta 

Chicago  

St.  Louis 

Tucson 


Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Jan'ry 

Feb'ry 

March 

April 

May 

June 

59.9 

44.2 

42.8 

31.4 

35.2 

35.8 

50.9 

61.9 

74.3 

54.2 

43.8 

41.8 

30.3 

33. 

34.6 

49.9 

59.4 

72. 

51.6 

41.4 

40.4 

28.3 

28.4 

32.9 

48.4 

55.9 

69.6 

59.8 

49.2 

47.2 

39.2 

43.9 

44.9 

57.7 

69.9 

78.4 

51.8 

44.3 

43.7 

34. 

45.1 

43.8 

53.8 

64.8 

68.4 

58. 

51.5 

49.2 

41.1 

48. 

50. 

58.7 

49. 

47. 

38.3 

47.8 

48. 

59. 

68.8 

72.2 

52.6 

33.8 

35.4 

19.5 

30.2 

31. 

44. 

52.4 

64.4 

57.6 

41.2 

42.8 

25.9 

40. 

40.4 

54. 

62.8 

76.6 

70.8 

58.9 

44.4 

49.2 

52.8 

57. 

61.8 

69.6 

79.2 

Mean 
Average 

47.95 
46.55 
44.10 
54.46 
49.96 

54.75 
40.36 
49.03 
60.41 


Humboldt,  far  above  the  line  of  vegeta- 
tion, is  all  but  perpetually  covered  with 
snow. 

It  is  astonishing  how  few  physicians 
in  the  east  are  familiar  with  the  climatic 
conditions  of  the  arid  west.  For  ex- 
ample, hundreds  of  invalids  come  to 
Arizona  every  year  who  have  been 
recommended  by  their  physicians  to  go 
to  Arizona  or  New  Mexico.  They  might 
almost  as  intelligently  be  instructed  to 
go  to  the  equator  or  to  the  North  Pole. 
The  patients  usually  go  first  to  New 
Mexico,  where  they  find  all  the  towns 
where  accommodations  can  be  had, at  an 
extremely  high  altitude.  A  high  alti- 
tude in  winter  means  cold  weather. 
They  are  compelled  to  remain  indoors, 
and  after  suffering  intensely  from  the 
cold,  for  the  accommodations  are  usually 
poor,  they  finally  decide  to  try  a  warmer 


*Mean  annual  temperature  of  New  Orleans,  68.6°;  of 
Yuma,  71.4°.  Report  of  the  Chief  of  the  Weather  Bureau 
for  1891. 


cording  to  the  well  known  principles  of 
gravity  as  applied  to  atmospheric  drain- 
age, the  cold  moist  air  settles  in  the  most 
dependent  localities.  This  is  quite  ap- 
parent by  the  sense  of  appreciation  in 
the  difference  between  the  sensible  and 

TABLE  III. 

SHOWING  THE  RELATION  BETWEEN  TEMPERATU: 
AND  ALTITUDE. 


STATIONS. 

ALTITUDE 

MEAN 
MINIMUM 

MEAN 
MAXIMUM 

Yuma 

141 

1068 
2400 
5389 

42 
32 
35 
20 

106.3 

Phoenix 

107.3 

Tucson 

100.8 

♦Prescott 

84.9 

*Prescott,  in  Northern  Arizona.  But  the  conditions  at 
the  same  as  for  regions  in  Southern  Arizona  at  cor 
responding  altitudes. 

actual  temperatures,  to  which  anyone 
will  vouch  who  has  driven  through 
river  valley  or  an  irrigated  bottom  ii 
the  arid  region.  The  sensible  differenc 
between  the  temperature  of  Phoenix  an< 
other  points  of  southern  Arizona  is  d< 
cidedly  marked;  Phoenix  being  sultry  ii 


the  hot  season  and    chilly  during    the 
cold.     The   actual    temperature    shows 
greater  extremes  for  reasons  which  de- 
pend   on     the     fundamental 
principles  of  natural  philoso- 
phy. Moist  air  is  heavier  than 
dry  air,  and  is  a  poorer  con- 
ductor of  heat  and  cold.  Con- 
sequently during  the  intense 
heat    of    summer    radiation 
does  not  take  place  with  suf- 
ficient   rapidity    during    the 
night  to  lower  the   tempera- 
ture to  that  of  other  localities 
outside  the  irrigated  district. 
For  the  same  reason  in  win- 
ter the  heat  of  the  sun  during 
the   day  is   not  sufficient   to 
raise  the  temperature  to  that 
of  the  other  stations.      It  is 
not  the  presence  of  the  river 
which  causes  the  increase  of 
relative  humidity,  for  Yuma, 
which  is  situated  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Gila  and  Colorado 
rivers,  has  the  lowest  relative 
humidity    of    any   region    of 
the   territory  where  the  rec- 
ords are  kept.  But  at  Phoenix, 
for  several  miles   above   and 
below    the  city,   the  country 
is  watered  by  irrigation  and 
the  soil  is  so  thoroughly  sat- 
urated  that  the  level  of  the 
water  beneath  the  surface  has 
been  raised  from  a  depth  of 
seventy,  to  from  twenty-five 
to  thirty  feet.     This  condition 
is   no    more    pronounced    at 
Phoenix    than    at  any   other 
point  where  irrigation  is  prac- 
ticed.     As    for   example,   in 
northern  Colorado   where, 
prior  to  the  introduction  of  irrigation  an 
extremely  low  percentage  of  moisture  ex- 
isted.    Since  all  that  region  has  been  ir- 
rigated the  relative  moisture  has  been  so 
increased  that  they  now  have  dews  where 
formerly    dews    were    unknown.      The 
emanations  from  the  growing  vegetation 
also  increase  the  relative  humidity,  al- 
though  sufficient   areas   have  not  been 
irrigated  to  make  any  perceptible  differ- 
ence in  the  amount  of  precipitation   by 
rainfall.      What  these  artificial  changes 
may  bring  about  in  time,   no  one  can 
predict;  but  it  is  well  known  that  bodies 
of  water  which  are  surrounded  by  irri- 


gated regions,  such  as  the  Great  Salt 
Lake  in  Utah,  are  gradually  increasing 
in  volume.     The  surface  of  the  Great 


A  CANON   IN   THE  MOUNTAINS,  NEAR  TUCSON. 

Salt  Lake  has  risen  several  inches  in  the 
last  few  years. 

The  report  of  the  United  States 
Weather  Observer  at  Phoenix,  makes 
the  relative  humidity  at  that  point,  for 
the  six  months  October  to  March,  1895- 
6,  inclusive,  52.82  per  cent.  Records  for 
Tucson  during  the  same  period  are  not 
obtainable.  But  compared  with  other 
years,  when  the  precipitation  was  about 
the  same  as  for  this  season,  we  find  the 
relative  humidity  in  the  irrigated  dis- 
tricts about  twelve  or  fifteen  per  cent, 
higher  than  at  the  other  points  in 
Southern  Arizona. 


IO 


What  the  invalids  from  the  north  and 
east  seek,  is  a  winter  climate.  Very 
few  of  them  can  be  induced  to  go  to  the 
arid  regions  during  the  summer  months; 
but  with  the  advent  of  cold  weather, 
after  they  have  taken  a  few  colds,  they 
set  out  for  a  warmer  clime. 

The  climate  of  Arizona  is  peculiarly 
adapted  to  the  requirements  of  people 
suffering  from  pulmonary  disease.  They 
need  a  climate  wherein  they  can  live 
out  of  doors.  No  one  will  dispute  the 
statement  that  the  out-door  life  is  the 
one  for  the  consumptive.  Observations 
made  by  veterinary  surgeons  show  that 
tubercular  cattle  always  improve  when 
turned  out  to  graze,  and  almost  every 


seventy-six.  He  had  contracted  tuber- 
cular phthisis  in  the  spring  of  1850, 
while  a  resident  of  the  State  of  Indiana. 
He  emigrated  to  California  at  that  time, 
and  was  compelled  to  make  the  journey 
on  horseback.  He  stated  that  he  was  a 
year  in  making  the  trip,  and,  during 
that  time,  he  recovered.  Since  then  he 
has  had  no  trouble  save  on  one  occasion 
when  he  visited  New  York.  He  then 
became  worse,  and  was  compelled  to 
terminate  his  visit  abruptly  and  return 
•  to  the  west.  The  writer  examined  this 
patient,  found  impaired  resonance,  in- 
creased fremitus  and  all  the  signs  of 
marked  involvement  over  both  apices 
and  over  almost  the  entire  area  of  the 


TUCSON'S   FUEI 


case  of  tubercular  phthisis  which  I  have 
known  to  recover  in  the  west,  has  given 
a  history  of  out-door  life.  By  out-door 
life,  I  do  not  mean  that  the  patient  is 
to  spend  a  few  hours  each  day  in  the 
open  air,  to  return  in-doors  when  he  be- 
comes a  little  fatigued.  I  mean  that  he 
should  remain  in  the  open  air  as  do  the 
cattle  which  are  turned  out  to  graze, 
day  and  night,  and  for  weeks  and 
months  at  a  time. 

A  few  months  ago  the  writer  visited 
the  city  of  Sacramento,  and  while  there 
was  taken  by  Dr.  Wallace  A.  Briggs  to 
see  an  interesting  case.  As  the  writer 
now  remembers  the  case,  it  was  as  fol- 
lows :    The   patient   was   a   man,   aged 


left  lung.  By  auscultation  and  percus- 
sion, he  detected  a  cavity  in  the  left 
apex  which  was  quite  the  size  of  a  small 
orange.  The  patient  stated  that  his 
lungs  gave  him  no  trouble  .  whatever. 
Dr.  Briggs  informed  me  that  he  was 
suffering  somewhat  from  tachycardia 
and  was  developing  some  symptoms  of 
senile  inanition,  but  was  not  troubled 
with  his  lungs. 

This  I  considered  an  exceedingly  in- 
structive case,  as  it  impressed  upon  me 
the  necessity  for  out-door  life  in  the 
treatment  of  pulmonary  tuberculosis.  I 
have  pronounced  hopeless  many  a  case 
which  was  not  so  much  involved  as  was 
this  one,  and  seen  my  prognosis  verifiec 


. 


1 1 


In  order  that  the  patient  may  live 
continuously  in  the  open  air  for  a  period 
of  several  months,  or,  for  that  matter, 
for  a  year,  or  several  years,  a  climate  is 
required  which  is  continuously  warm 
and  dry.  Such  a  climate  the  United 
States  does  not  possess.  But  the  near- 
est approach  to  it  is,  I  believe,  in  the 
deserts  of  Arizona.  But  the  ideal  cli- 
mate cannot  be  found  above  the  frost 
line.  While  I  believe  that  the  climate 
of  Southern  Arizona  possesses  features 
which  are  far  superior  to  those  of  any 
other  section  of  the  United  States,  yet  I 
am  compelled  to  admit  that  I  think 
there  are  many  climates  which  will  in 
time  be  found  to  be  superior.  A  desert 
region  in  the  tropics,  at  an  altitude  suf- 
ficiently high  to  avoid  a  too  intense 
heat,  would  be  superior  to  anything  yet 
described,  and  would,  according  to  my 
idea,  fill  the  requirements  much  better. 

What  the  people  seem  to  look  for  is  a 
winter  climate.  Even  physicians  rarely 
send  their  patients  to  the  arid  regions 
during  the  summer.  This  I  consider  a 
great  mistake.  I  think  the  patients 
should  be  sent  to  the  arid  regions  so 
soon  as  there  is  evidence  of  infection 
from  the  tubercle  bacillus,  and  should 
be  made  to  remain  there  until  they 
are  well,  or  until  it  is  apparent  that 
the  case  is  hopeless.  The  climate  of 
Southern  Arizona  is  a  winter  climate. 
We  do  not  recommend  that  the  patients 


doors,  and  this  I  consider  more  impor- 
tant than  any  other  feature  of  the  cli- 
mate. 

It  is  not  necessary  that  patients  be 
required  to  remain  in  one  town,  or  at 
the  same  hotel,  all  the  time.  If  they 
have  the  means  to  travel  about,  there 
are  many  places  of  interest  which  they 
can  visit  and  thus  add  greatly  to  their 
pleasures.  For  example,  during  the 
hot  months  of  summer,  when  the  heat 
of  the  low  lands  becomes  well-nigh  un- 
bearable, the  patient  may  go  to  the 
northern  part  of  the  territory  where  he 
will  find,  besides  a  dry,  warm  climate, 
many  of  the  most  interesting  and  re- 
markable natural  wonders  which  the 
world  possesses.  Among  these  may  be 
mentioned  the  Grand  Canon  of  the 
Colorado  ;  the  Wind  Carved  Rocks,  and 
the  Petrified  Forests.  Such  attractions 
as  the  Moqui  Indian  villages,  Cliff 
Dwellings,  and  the  ruins  of  many  an- 
cient civilizations  are  frequent.  In  the 
Salt  River  valley  there  are  ruins  of  a 
city  which  must  have  contained  a  popu- 
lation of  300,000.  These  numerous 
ruins,  which  are  found  all  over  the 
territory,  with  their  hieroglyphics  and 
pictoglyphics,  will  well  repay  investi- 
gation by  the  student  of  ethnology.  In 
the  country  surrounding  Flagstaff,  in 
the  San  Francisco  Mountains,  is  the 
largest  unbroken  pine  forest  in  the 
United    States.      Here,    the   sportsman 


TABLE  IV. 

SHOWING  THE  DIFFERENCE  BETWEEN  THE  RAINFALL  AT  TUCSON,  ARIZONA,  AND  OTHER 
POINTS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Stations. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April  |  May 

June    July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec.  j Total 

Boston  

4.39 
5.73 
3.65 
4.30 
6.73 
119 
6.50 
9.18 
3.75 
1.99 
1.60 
1.21 
0.25 
5.63 
0.12 

3.66 
4.69 
4.71 
6.89 
8.50 
0.32 
4.54 
8.15 
7.42 
1.95 
0.27 
4.84 
8.56 
0.09 
2.08 

3.94 
4.22 
4.42 
9.70 

10.16 
4.02 
6.96 

10.59 
2.67 
2.13 
3.10 
0.27 
0.41 
1.18 
0.17 

1.71 
2.37 
2.34 
2.21 
1.58 
1.72 
1.65 
1.95 
0.26 
3.14 
2.49 
0.76 
1.26 
4.57 
0.00 

1.56 
3.10 
1.74 
4.45 
2.17 
2.78 
0.67 
1.36 
0.76 
2.09 
4.15 
0.35 
0.31 
2.36 
0.18 

3.06 
1.18 
2.51 
5.51 
4.71 
3.31 
7.09 
6.65 
4.45 
2.42 
2.93 
0.05 
0.00 
2.16 
0.22 

3.73 
4.11 
4.65 
5.86 
5.38 
4.08 
7.50 
10  13 
4.57 
2.47 
0.59 

T 

T 

0.85 
0.70 

3.87 
5  87 
4.22 
5.86 
2.59 
3.67 
3.50 
0.86 
1.69 
4.52 
2.84 
0.00 
0.00 
1.06 
2.26 

2.29 
2.12 
1.90 
2.32 
1.19 
0.83 
4.05 
0.36 
3.43 
0.32 
0.73 
0.08 
0.06 
3.60 
0.65 

5.56 

2.69 

2.57 

2.04 

0.02 

4.43 

0.20  J 

0.07 

2.38  1 

0  36  | 

0.48  ! 

0.04  i 

0.00 

0.60  J 

0.00 

2.35 
2.06 
1.70 
2.02 
3.26 
1.53 
7.60 
6.80 
3.31 
3.83 
0.69 
0.10 
0.00 
0.92 
0.00 

3.58  !  39.7 

3.30  i  41.4 

Philadelphia 

3.78  !  38.1 

1.67 
3.68 
3.46 
6.81 
7.47 
3.93 
1.32 
1.56 
1.29 
1.99 
5.73 
0.23 

528 

Atlanta 

Jacksonville  

49.7 
41.3 

Mobile 

57.0 

63.5 

38.6 

26.5 

Denver 

21.4 

San  Diego 

8.89 

12.8 

San  Antonio,  Tex.... 
Tucson,  Arizona 

29.2 
6.61 

Report  of  the  Chief  of  U.  S.  Weather  Bureau,  1891. 


>me  here  for  the  summer,  unless  they 
ljoy  or  are  able  to  stand  the  heat.  For 
tose  who  can  stand  warm  weather,  I 
link  the  summers  much  better  than 
le  winters ;  for,  owing  to  the  heat, 
rerybody  is  compelled  to  sleep  out  of 


may  find  deer,  antelope  and  bear,  not  to 
speak  of  small  game  or  fish.  After 
several  months  of  outing,  he  may  return 
to  the  southern  part  of  the  territory  to 
spend  the  winter.  There,  day  after  day, 
he  may  bask  in  the  sun,  and  lead  a  life 


12 


which  is  practically  an  out- door  one,  all 
the  winter  through.  In  southern  Ari- 
zona, almost  the  entire  rainfall  occurs 
in  two  months,  usually  the  months  of 
August  and  December ;  while  in  the 
northern  portion  of  the  territory,  the 
greatest  precipitation  is  in  the  winter 
snow.  Unfortunately  we  have  not  at 
our  command  the  records  of  rainfall, 
humidity  and  temperature  for  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  territory,  but  it  will 
suffice  to  say  that  it  is  no  place  to  send 
tubercular  patients  during  the  winter 
months. 

The  rainfall  in  the  territory  of  Ari- 
zona varies  directly  as  the  altitude  (see 
Table  I).  At  an  altitude  of  7000  feet 
(Flagstaff)  it  is  about  twenty-three 
inches.  The  table  below  shows  the 
rainfall  at  Tucson  as  compared  with 
some  other  points  in  the  United  States. 

A  warm  dry  climate  is  the  one  which 
seems  most  suitable  for  the  tubercular 
patient.  We  have  already  discussed 
the  element  of  temperature  in  Arizona 
as  compared  to  that  of  the  Atlantic 
Coast  and  the  Mississippi  Valley.  But 
there  is  another  element  in  connection 
with  temperature  which  we  have  not 
discussed,  and  which  has,  I  think,  a 
great  bearing  on  the  selection  of  a 
climate.  I  refer  to  the  sensible,  and  actual 
temperatures.  In  this  matter,  I  can  do 
no  better  than  quote  from  the  report  of 
Professor  Edward  M.  Boggs,  of  the 
University  of  Arizona.  In  his  article 
on  the  "Climate  of  Arizona,"*  he 
says : — 

"The  simple  thermometer,  no  matter 
how  accurate  it  may  be,  does  not  measure 
temperature  as  felt  by  animal  life.  Its 
records  must  be  considered  in  connection 
with  certain  other  data  in  order  to  af- 
ford a  mode  of  comparison  with  the 
climates  of  other  portions  of  the  earth. 
We  may  term  the  reading  of  an  accurate 
thermometer  the  actual,  and  the  sensa- 
tion of  heat  or  cold  as  felt  by  the  higher 
orders  of  animal  life  the  sensible  tempera- 
ture. Neither  of  these  is  a  measure  of 
the  other.  The  fact  is  well  known  to 
meteorologists,  that  the  thermometer 
alone  cannot  indicate  the  sensible  tem- 
perature, but  that  the  humidity  of  the 
air  must  be  considered  in  connection 
with  the  actual  temperature.     This  fact 

•Arizona  Agricultural  Experiment   Station,  Bulletin 
No.  20. 


is  also  known  to  dwellers  in  the  arid 
region,  but  it  is  not  known  to  the  ma- 
jority of  otherwise  intelligent  people 
throughout  the  world. 

"  Where  the  percentage  of  atmos- 
pheric moisture  is  high,  both  extremes  of 
temperature  are  felt  to  be  greater  than 
the  thermometer  indicates.  Everybody 
knows  something  about  that  condition 
of  the  weather  which  is  variously  termed 
4  sultry,'  '  close,'  or  'muggy.'  These 
terms  describe  the  result  of  a  combina- 
tion of  heat  and  moist  air.  This  is  the 
condition  which  exists  commonly  in  the 
tropical  regions  of  the  world  where  the 
rainfall  is  heavy,  and  in  the  same  way, 
though  in  a  smaller  degree,  throughout 
the  United  States  outside  of  the  arid 
region.  It  is  especially  noticeable  in  the 
States  bordering  on  large  bodies  of  water, 
such  as  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  or  the  Great 
Lakes,  and  is  conspicuously  absent  from 
the  greater  portion  of  Arizona. 

"In  the  dry  air  of  this  territory  sun- 
strokes are  unknown,- while  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley  and  in  the  states  lying 
eastward  whole  columns  of  the  news- 
papers are  filled  with  accounts  of  pros- 
trations from  heat ;  and  the  fatalities 
are  numerous  whenever  the  thermom- 
eter indicates  90°  F.,  or  upwards.  At 
many  places  along  the  sea-coast,  where 
the  humidity  always  remains  near  the 
point  of  saturation,  a  temperature  of  85° 
brings  excessive  discomfort,  and  exertion 
or  exposure  to  the  sun  is  extremely  haz- 
ardous. Men  and  the  lower  animals 
perform  in  safety  their  customary  labor 
beneath  the  cloudless  skies  of  Arizona, 
under  the  highest  temperature  ever  ex- 
perienced here.  The  dry  air  induces 
exceedingly  rapid  *  evaporation  of  the 
abundant  perspiration,  thus  keeping  the 
body  at  a  comparatively  low  tempera- 
ture. As  a  matter  of  course,  the  supply 
of  fluid  must  be  maintained,  hence  the 
great  thirst  so  often  experienced  by 
travellers  in  desert  regions,  and  the  im- 
perative necessity  for  an  adequate  supply 
of  drinking  water.  Of  all  the  lives  lost 
on  the  desert  stretches  of  Western 
America — and  their  number  is  not  small 
— not  one  is  directly  attributable  to  heat, 
but  to  thirst.  The  experienced  traveller 
provides  an  ample  supply  of  water  and 
fearlessly  invades  the  worst  desert  yet 
discovered. 

"An  amount  ranging  from  fifteen  to 


13 


perhaps  thirty  degrees,  according  to  the 
humidity,  should  be  subtracted  from  the 
maximum  actual  temperatures  in  Ari- 
zona, during  the  hot  season,  to  indicate 
the  sensible  temperatures.  In  like  man- 
ner, the  dry  air  of  the  arid  regions  en- 
ables extremely  low  temperatures  to  be 
endured  without  discomfort.  The  win- 
ter cold  of  the  Canadian  Northwest  Ter- 
ritory is  much  less  disagreeable  than 
that  of  the  United  States  immediately 
south  of  the  Great  Lakes.  The  lowest 
temperatures  known  on  the  high  plateau 
of  Arizona,  bring  less  discomfort  than  a 
chilly  day  in  New  Orleans." 

It  is  when  we  come  to  study  the  rela- 
tive moisture  which  exists  in  the  atmos- 
phere of  Arizona  that  we  see  the  most 
striking  peculiarity  of  the  climate. 
Table  V  shows  the  difference  in  relative 
humidity  between  the  climate  of  Tucson 
and  that  of  other  portions  of  the  United 
States.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  relative 
humidity  does  not  always  depend  upon 
the  amount  of  precipitation,  as  for  ex- 
ample, San  Diego,  Cal.,  which  has  a 
rainfall  almost  as  deficient  as  that  of 
Tucson. 

I  think  that  this  feature  of  the  climate 
of  Arizona  is  what  makes  it  so  beneficial 
to  "  pulmonary  "  patients.  I  know  of 
no  country  which  possesses,  in  addition 
to  a  moderate  altitude,  a  warm  equable 
temperature  with  such  a  low  degree  of 
relative  moisture.     If  it  be  a  dry  at- 


mosphere which  the  patients  need,  and 
I  think  all  observers  agree  that  a  dry 
atmosphere  is  the  most  essential  element, 
then  Arizona  can  surpass  anything  on 
this  continent,  if  not,  indeed,  anything 
in  the  world. 

TABLE  V. 

SHOWING  THE  RELATIVE  HUMIDITY  AT  VARIOUS 

POINTS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  AT 

TUCSON,  ARIZONA. 

For  the  nine  months,  October  to  June  inclusive,  1891-2. 


Stations. 


Boston 

New  York 

Chicago 

Norfolk,  Va 

Atlanta,  Ga 

Mobile,  Ala 

Jacksonville 

Meridian,  Miss 

San  Antonio 

Los  Angeles 

San  Diego 

*Asheville,  N.C 

Tucson,  Arizona.... 


8  A.  M. 

8  P.  M. 

70. 

66.4 

73.4 

69.7 

80.2 

75.5 

80.4 

73. 

78.8 

65.4 

85.2 

77.4 

79.8 

72.2 

85.7 

73.2 

70.1 

50.4 

/  J. 

65.4 

78.2 

69.1 

56.5 

28.7 

Average 


68.2 

71.6 

77.8 

76.7 

72.1 

81.3 

76. 

79.4 

60.5 

71.2 

73.6 

68.7 

42.6 


*  Therapeutic  Gazette,  Oct.  16th,  1893. 

Were  we,  in  our  report,  to  exclude  the 
two  months  of  heaviest  rainfall,  the 
mean  relative  humidity  would  be  fully 
ten  per  cent,  lower  than  that  given  in 
the  table ;  while  in  other  portions  of 
the  United  States  there  is  no  correspond- 
ing decrease.  For  example,  in  the 
month  of  June  1892,  the  average  relative 
humidity  was  twenty  per  cent. ,  and  for 
August  and  February  of  the  same  year 
(the  months  of  greatest  rainfall)  the 
average  relative    humidity  was  respec- 


/  ^  on  N^ 


H 


tively  thirty-eight  per  cent,  and  sixty- 
nine  per  cent.  During  the  greater  part 
of  the  year  the  inhabitants  of  southern 
Arizona  sleep  out  of  doors.  I  have 
slept,  night  after  night,  for  weeks  at  a 
time,  without  being  aware  of  the  pres- 
ence, even,  of  dew.  It  is  difficult,  at 
first,  to  induce  the  "  tenderfoot "  to 
sleep  in  the  open  air.  He  has  visions 
of  tarantulas,  scorpions  and  centipedes, 
which  are  disquieting.  But  in  the 
course  of  time,  he  learns  that  these  in- 
sects are  so  rare  as  to  be  curiosities,  and 
that  their  sting  is  to  be  dreaded  not  so 
much  as  that  of  a  California  flea.  The 
sensational  Arizona  tales  of  poisonous 
reptiles  and  insects,  of  murderous 
Apache  raids,  and  of  cow-boy  and  des- 
perado shooting  scrapes  exist  only  in 
print.  They  have  no  modern  foundation 
in  truth. 

Many  physicians  in  the  east  order 
patients  to  California  for  the  winter, 
apparently  with  a  view  of  sending  them 
to  a  dry  climate.  California  is  deficient 
only  in  rainfall.  If  the  reader  will 
look  at  Table  V,  he  will  notice  that 
relative  humidity  in  southern  California 
is  as  great,  and  in  some  instances  great- 
er, than  that  of  the  Atlantic  Coast.  He 
may  also  be  surprised  to  know  that 
many  of  the  best  physicians  in  Califor- 
nia regularly  send  their  tubercular  and 
asthmatic  patients  to  Tucson.  Califor- 
nia is  a  beautiful  country,  and  is  a 
delightful  country  in  which  to  live  if 
one  can  stand  a  high  percentage  of 
humidity.  But  the  fogs  which  come  in 
from  the  sea,  and  the  emanations  from 
the  vast  irrigated  regions,  make  it  far 
inferior  to  the  inland  desert  regions  for 
phthisical  patients.  I  think  it  may  be 
assumed  as  a  general  rule  that  wherever 
there  is  irrigation,  there  is  a  high  degree 
of  relative  humidity.  It  is  my  opinion 
that  patients  suffering  from  pulmonary 
phthisis  should  never  be  sent  to  an  irri- 
gated district.  In  addition  to  the  high 
degree  of  humidity,  there  is  usually  as- 
sociated the  miasmatic  micro-organisms. 
Indeed,  some  of  the  California  physi- 
cians have  declared  that  "  irrigation 
and  malaria  go  together. ' ' 

The  city  of  Tucson  has,  in  my  opinion, 
advantages  as  a  health  resort  which 
cannot  be  equalled  anywhere  in  North 
America.  I  know  of  no  locality  where 
such  a  moderate  winter    climate    and 


such  a  low  degree  of  relative  humidity 
are  combined  with  the  same  latitude 
and  altitude.  It  is  no  longer  considered 
imperative  to  send  tubercular  patients 
to  an  altitude  of  5,000  feet,  or  over. 
In  fact,  clinical  experience  has  proven 
that  more  frequently  patients  require 
to  be  sent  to  an  altitude  of  less,  rather 
than  more  than  3,000  feet.  The  altitude 
of  Tucson  is  2,400  feet,  and  that  seems 
to  be  amply  high  for  all  but  the  most  ex- 
ceptional cases.  The  city  is  situated  in 
a  basin,  near  the  underground  Santa 
Cruz  river.  It  is  completely  walled  in 
by  massive  mountain  ranges.  To  the 
north  is  the  Santa  Catalina  range ;  to 
the  east,  the  Rincon ;  to  the  south,  the 
Santa  Rita ;  and  on  the  west,  the  Tuc- 
son. Each  of  these  ranges  has  an  alti- 
tude of  5,000  feet,  at  least.  Mount  Lem- 
on, the  highest  peak  of  the  Santa  Cata- 
linas,  has  an  elevation  of  over  7,000 
feet,  and  Mount  Wrightson  in  the  Santa 
Ritas,  reaches  an  altitude  of  nearly 
11,000  feet. 

Surrounded  as  it  is  by  this  impassable 
wall,  the  city  is  protected  from  wind 
and  rain.  The  humidity  is  less  than 
that  of  any  other  city  in  the  United 
States.  Moreover,  it  will  always  re- 
main virtually  unchanged,  for  irrigation 
is  not,  and  never  can  be,  carried  on  to 
any  extent.  The  reasons  for  this  are 
two :  First,  there  is  no  water ;  and 
second,  the  soil  is  such  that  nothing 
more  than  a  few  shade  trees  and  small 
fruits  can  be  grown,  and  these  only 
when  great  care  and  attention  have 
been  devoted  to  them.  I  must  make  an 
exception  in  regard  to  flowers.  Roses 
bloom  in  the  gardens  in  magnificent 
profusion,  almost  every  month  in  the 
3rear. 

The  scenery  at  Tucson  is  as  impress- 
ive as  anywhere  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. The  gorgeous  sunrises  and  sun- 
sets beggar  description.  There  are  fine 
drives,  canons  and  ruins.  The  char- 
acteristics are  those  of  the  desert,  the 
charming  peculiarities  of  which  are 
novel  and  entertaining  to  people  who 
have  been  accustomed  to  live  in  the 
humid  regions. 

I  wish  to  call  attention  to  one  more 
of  the  features  of  southern  Arizona  be- 
fore I  close.  I  refer  to  the  sunshine. 
During  the  nine  months,  October  to 
June,  inclusive,  1894-5,  there  were  but 


i5 


twenty-five  cloudy  days,  and  nine  of 
these  were  in  one  month.  Some  idea 
of  the  transparency  of  the  atmosphere 
may  be  had  when  I  state  that,  at  mid- 
day, and  with  the  unaided  eye,  I  have 
seen  Venus  when  it  was  but  ten  degrees 
east  of  the  sun. 

The  writer  feels  kindly  toward  Ari- 


zona. One  year  ago,  in  Philadelphia, 
he  was  attacked  with  two  hemorrhages 
from  the  lungs.  He  had  a  bad  cough, 
and  was  losing  flesh  rapidly.  On  the 
advice  of  a  distinguished  member  of  this 
society,  he  went  to  Tucson.  Since  that 
time  he  has  gained  twenty-six  pounds 
in  weight,  and  now  is  a  well  man. 


The  Southern  Pacific  Railroad 


SUNSET  ROUTE  TO  ARIZONA  & 


& 


BETWEEN  NEW  YORK  AND  NEW  ORLEANS  «** 

FIRST-CLASS  PASSENGER  ACCOMMODATIONS  ^ 


The  Cromwell  Steamship  Line 


^ 
<* 


